Red sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky at dawn, sailors take warn. It might rain today so I packed a poncho!

I got to the house at 6:00am to meet Thane & family. Today , August 25th, is his birthday, and they have to move a kid into college later this afternoon, so they got a ~really~ early start! It’s also Mom & Dad’s wedding anniversary. It would have been 57 years.

I stopped by to say good morning to Bart and have a stoop chat. We enjoyed some curbside entertainment as this car tried to get into that four foot parking space.

It was still very early, but I headed over and enjoyed the peace and quiet of practically empty streets & spaces.

There were no lines for coffee, but I’d already filled up for the day.

I headed down to the bench to take a moment and reflect on all the love & memories that flooded my heart & head on this particular date.

As I sat & remembered, and made a list of all the things I need to see & do, an old state fair friend honked his horn and said hello!

I sat on the bench for a while longer, remembering the love and having a moment.

My memories & recollections are assisted by my Facebook posts from last year!

I had no plans to meet up with anyone, my to do list was long, so I contemplated my next move to check off a few things. Just as I was getting ready to leave, Thane & family arrived to pay their respects and honor the memories.

Pie for breakfast seemed like a great idea. I started walking slowly up towards the food building. It wouldn’t be open for another 20 minutes. I came upon the fruit juice pods in their closed state. I had no idea that they had lids with hydraulic lifts that rise slowly and become the roof!

After being mesmerized by the rising pods for a while, I saw the doors go up on the food building and I cruised in for my Tipsy Pie!

Seeing all animals that are showcased at the fair requires some planning and timing. Some species & breeds only spend 2-3 days in any given barn. It’s a good idea to check the daily schedules, to see what animals are where, when. The Poultry/Sheep Barn has the largest amount of animal movement. It houses bunnies, ducks, geese, chickens, goats, sheep and the 4H assorted competitors.

It’s also a good idea to see the pigs early on during the fair, as the heat, crowds and swine traffic do nothing to improve the smell over time.

The draft horses will be moving out tomorrow, so on my way to the swine & cattle barns, I stopped to admire them.

On the way down Judson there are always Alpaca! These two were pretty cute!

The cattle barn roof collapsed last spring due to the excess weight of all the snow. I wanted to see repairs. You can’t tell from the inside as far as I could tell and it’s too shadowed to get a picture. I walked through rather quickly, looking for Brown Swiss. It’s the 4H competition right now, so they are not separated by farm or breed, but by county. The cows are all mixed up! I found a few sweet faces.

I also ran into these two! My boss Tina and her husband Craig. Craig is sporting a ~vintage~ Fair day t-shirt, when we worked for Guidant before Boston Scientific took over in 2006!

We chatted for a bit, they were headed in to see the cows and I was headed for the pigs!

I saw the Largest Boar and Sow, but I’m not sure why I didn’t take any pictures! It might have been crowded already. It’s quite the attraction! I did wander through the whole Swine barn, with its newly remodeled stalls and found it was half filled with goats.

Goats are always amusing, and quite loud.

Having seen all the pigs & goats I cared to, I made my way over to see if there were more draft horses getting ready for the competition. I lucked out. They are such beautiful animals.

After seeing all the animals. I needed a thorough, hot water, hand washing, so I stopped into the largest bathroom facility on the grounds across from the Judging Arena. There’s never a line here. There was however a strange note of caution on the sink. I’m not sure I avoid “using” the mirror. Whoops. I used it.

I decided to take a swing through the CHS Miracle of Birth center, just to check the calf situation and check out the tote board.

I grabbed some sunscreen and took a picture of the Coliseum schedule for future reference. Since I never blogged this day, the reference was moot. Free, quality sunscreen is always a bonus!

No calves yet today and the cow in the pen wasn’t progressing. I cruised through to see some of the adorable babies.

Hands down, the best thing to see in here this year is the duck slide! I could have watched them for hours! I had to move to let little kids see it, forgetting that I’m an adult!

Having seen enough live animals, I decided to go see some stuffed dead ones. DNR, here I come.

I seem to get a photo of the moose every year. I’m not sure why, it’s not like he ~ever~ changes.

There was so much going on in the DNR Park this year. I still miss the river trash sculpture. I hope they find funding to create one again in the future…. or better yet, if there isn’t enough trash to be found in our lakes & rivers to create anything!

There were lots of interactive exhibits for kids and adults. The Wolf Center, The Minnesota Bird Club, The Conservation Corps, and more.

There was a new (to me) exhibit to bring awareness to poaching. It was the “wall of shame”. Lots of stuffed animals that should still be flying, swimming and foraging….

In the corner there was an owl on a branch and I stared for quite some time before I realized it was ~not~ stuffed!

I wandered inside the building and the light was just right to get a photo of the fish in the tanks.

There are still lots of fish outside!

I went kayaking for the first time this summer at a friends cabin. I want this beautiful blue one! it’s just here for a photo op. I won’t lie, I wanted to get in, but I had no one to take my picture. And frankly I wasn’t sure how and if I could get out again gracefully!

In the back room of the DNR there was a display focusing on getting more people connected with nature. There is a canoe photo booth and you can dress up and paddle. There is also a Pom Pom voting area to poll people as to the top five efforts that legacy dollars should be spent on. I planned to return here later in the Fair to see how the vote was stacking up. I also got some free camping silverware, a backpack and a bobber carabiner.

I really want to get a picture with Smokey Bear and wish him a happy 75th birthday! I checked the schedule and he wasn’t going to arrive until around 11:00am. I could always get a photo op with his stand in.

I figured I had enough time to get through the bottom level of the Grandstand and back in time to see Smokey.

We had plans in the works for a new patio. (It ended up not getting done last fall, but this spring instead) Last year I first saw this Yard Bird furniture and loved it. This year it’s on clearance! I sent a picture to Randy and got the name and number of a sales guy. I asked him if I had time to place an order, and he suggested that I not wait too long. I called the next day and ordered a set. They ended up running out of the sand color that I purchased in three days. In the coming days, I made all my Fair companions sit on “my new furniture”.

I cruised through part of the lower level, and thought about Mom as I passed by Nellie’s booth. She always picked up laundry soap and new dryer balls every couple years. I was tempted to get the sheep balls, but they were a freebie with soap purchase. I’m a Norwex user and laundry soap is heavy!

There were many of the usual vendors, so I moved through quickly. I stopped to check out a few of the new ones. This artist has great stuff. I’m not sure where I’d put it, but I love the sentiments.

I walked into the Heim-made booth. One day I hope I’ll be small enough to fit in one of these lumberjack jackets!

Last year, Thai rolled ice cream was a new food. This year I had a vantage point to record the process. The flat chilled boards make it all possible.

As I stood photo journaling this process, who should I run into but my former co-teacher Megan and her husband Jordan.

They had lots to do (eat & see) on this beautiful day, so we chatted for a few and went off in separate directions.

I turned the corner and found the booth where I bought the commemorative ornaments for mom every year. I knew all the past year baubles were upstairs in moms house, but I couldn’t bring myself to buy the one for this year. I should have, because when I went back later, they were sold out.

No sign of rain and another glorious day brought more and more people.

My stomach was rumbling and conveniently the foot long hot dogs were on the path back to the DNR.

Smokey had yet to make an appearance, so I thought about climbing the ranger tower. There was a long line and as I looked up, I realized the Birds of Prey show was in progress!

I watched from the periphery for a bit when I saw Smokey make his way across the plaza. Lots of kids flocked to him and I had to awkwardly wait my turn to snap a selfie! I wished him Happy Birthday and posted the pic to Facebook

I was ready to move on so I walked up Carnes and popped into the Medica tent. The line was super long to spin the giant wheel, but all I really wanted was some chapstick so I bypassed the line and they gave me a bag too!

I took a chance at finding a spot to sit at the ball park and captured my hard working friend Nate, busy doing what he loves, taking to people about beer!

I luckily found a table, and encountered Megan & Jordan again! They sat for a bit and I was able to give his dead phone a jump start with my back up battery pack. We discussed food decisions and I’m not sure if they already ate one, or were on the way to find one, but I pulled up the review and location of the deep-fried dilly dog for them. It dawned on me that long, long lines I saw at the Swine & Spuds booth in the coliseum was not for the pork belly… it was for the Dilly Dog!

It was only noon and I’d seen much, but I didn’t want to waste any more time. We parted ways again and I headed over to the U of MN booth to see if they were still giving away fanny packs. The pack line was gone, and the booth was not crowded so I took a gander at the trophy case. Somehow I feel a little more connection to the U, now that I am a legit graduate!

I stopped at the Hamline Dining Hall to see if Elaine Christiansen was working. I missed her today, but I’d check back. I read about the new ice cream flavor this year and one day I will try it! It sounds like a lot, but also delicious….they had me at cardamom.

I still really had no agenda. Gray (now Jack in 2020) was working at the MNHS booth in the Education Building and would be done around 2pm. I walked up to the north end to see what I could see.

I said “hey” to the big duck. I no longer need a bathroom remodel, so no need to stop for information.

The Kemps booth was giving away the Neapolitan “itty bitz”. Got my portion cup and realized it was made with red dye #40. I’m allergic, so I took a picture and dumped the dots.

I got my tattoo to try my chance at an inflatable cow. I looked in the pen, and they seem to have shrunk this year!

I did stop into the photo booth and got photobombed by a cow! “moo!”

They replaced one of the last old restroom buildings this summer with a beautiful new facility. On the path to the new biffy, I came upon the Giant Sing-Along. I stopped to sing a chorus of “Be our guest” from Beauty and the Beast. I happened to arrive during the Show Tunes Sing Along set. There was a poster with images of all the past years buttons and buckets full of them to choose from. I decided I didn’t need any more buttons.

Traveling the back roads up here, I found the Stihl Chainsaw carver tent. He’s usually at work on something. He’s using a blowtorch to burn the color into his latest bear cub.

Elysia might need one of these at the cabin!

Walking up farther north, I wandered into the pet tent and they have a cat expo right inside the door. This was the most interesting cat I’ve ever seen. Such a face! He’s a Selkirk Rex.

You can find cat pur-niture, dog grooming tools, K-9 paraphernalia, dog treats, leashes and clothing inside this tent. There was nothing here I needed today.

Behind the Hangar they have created a new marketplace, similar to the West End set you, just smaller. There are some fun booths up here. Friends of the Boundary Waters & REI have a cute camp set up (that you can sign up to win!)

You can also get photobombed by a moose.

There’s a cool custom bike shop that has really neat bikes, but no trikes.

And the shop “Good Things” that bought out the Bibelot, has a booth set up with lots of fun unusual gifts and state fair kitsch.

I took some time to watch the LED corn sculpture and captured the image where it actually looks like corn!

Gray’s stint at the MNHS booth was ending soon, so I headed straight for the Education Building. I captured the history nerd in his natural habitat!

The youth still had some time on the clock, so I spun the wheel and won steel straws! I also had fun at the dramatic play campfire!

While the kid finished his shift, I zigzagged up and down the aisles. I signed my initials on a snow plow blade.

I wanted to sit on a couple million dollars, but had no one to take my picture.

I decided I needed to come back and play Minnesota Plinko one day.

And take some pictures in front of the Fair Forest.

I walked back through the Annex and got to see the Swiss peeler man do his demo. I’m pretty sure he’s been here every year I have.

There is also a little booth selling these cute scrubby sponges that are dishwasher safe. I just love the bright colors. I’ll have to stop back to buy some later. (I never did. I forgot.)

I went to fetch Gray and made him take some pics with me. First stop the Fair Forest.

Then there was the opportunity to stick our heads in stuff. Can’t pass that up. The kid was actually (briefly) willing to indulge me. All the years we walked by this booth, those dollars helped fund a four year college education for the Ole Grad!

Can you believe it’s only 2pm. The parade was about to march by, so we found a spot by a tree and Gray connected with a couple college buddies.

There was a Ghostbuster car driving by and there was a marching group of former flag girls, (they were closer to my age than high school!) doing their thing!

I asked the youth if they would join me in the Alphabet Forest for my Day Four picture. They obliged.

The kid left with his pals and I adventured a little further. I stopped at the DFL booth and did the survey to get my soybean and dropped it into my pick for 2020.

Gray wasn’t gone long and hunger brought him back to me, so we grabbed a cheeseburger at the Midway Men’s Club. As I waited there for the youth to join me, I chatted with my buddy who honked at me 8 hours ago!

I planned to see Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits at the bandshell later tonight, but the kid was tired and wanted to head home. We walked back to Moms for a break.

The rain that threatened that morning was now a higher probability. The temperatures were dropping and I knew I needed another layer to make it through the concert. I scrounged one moms closet and found her Winter Carnival purple fleece. I was shocked that I fit in her XL jacket and I felt wrapped up in her spirit. I convinced Gray, after a short rest, to come back to the fair with me. We grabbed umbrellas and headed over the bandshell. I stopped for some of the Irish Whisky chicken drummies from O’Gara’s accompanied by a glass of wine and settled in for the concert.

Gray actually enjoyed the oldies and recognized some of the songs and sang along. The Guinness helped.

Peter Noone could still entertain!

We thought about watching the laser show up by Eco Hall, but it wasn’t starting until 9:00 and we were both tired. Randy always appreciates finding a bag of mini donuts when he wakes up, so we stopped for a bag. This year they sell them ~by the bucket~. Information Randy does not need to know! I promised the kid whatever he wanted if he cane to the concert with me. He decided that a cup of cookies would be good. We trekked back down to Sweet Marthas and bought a small cone and made our way towards home.

In front of the U of MN building there are some really cool vegetable gardens. They utilize strawbale techniques and I want to check it out during the daylight hours. At night though it was a fun experience.

We walked back to moms around 10:30. The house is too dark and too quiet, but yet comforting in a way. It had been over 16 hours since I pulled in this morning. I was ready for bed. No time to blog.